Nancy Binay willing to initiate talks with Lani Cayeteno to end feud
Senator Nancy Binay (Photo from Senate Public Relations and Information Bureau)
MANILA, Philippines — Outgoing Senator and Makati Mayor-elect Nancy Binay is willing to initiate discussions with Taguig Mayor-elect Lani Cayetano to quash the feud between them once and for all.
Local officials in the two cities have long been at odds with each other amid a land dispute.
The Supreme Court previously ruled on the row in favor of Taguig.
According to Binay, she wants to finally put an end to the bickering as she does not want to affect the residents of its former barangays – the ones that are now under the jurisdiction of Taguig.
“Me, I’m okay with initiating. As I said, Mayor Lani and I have seen each other several times in the events,” said Binay at the Kapihan sa Senado news forum on Thursday.
“We have no issues. We have no problems, so it’s easy for us to talk,” she maintained.
When asked about what she plans to discuss with Cayetano, Binay said she intends to clarify several issues.
These issues include the negotiations on Makati’s assets now under Taguig’s jurisdiction, including the health care centers and the University of Makati.
“For me, what’s important is that the services received by the Embo residents continue whether they are part of Taguig or Makati,” she pointed out.
“The Embo barangays should not have to suffer,” she noted.
However, when asked if it would be okay for Senator Alan Cayetano (Mayor Lani’s husband) to also attend the meeting, Binay quickly responded “no.”
“Maybe not anymore. It might be better if it’s just the two of us, so there’s no baggage involved,” she said.
The Supreme Court, in its decision, declared the following places under the jurisdiction of Taguig:
- Fort Bonifacio, Barangays Pembo, Comembo, Cembo, South Cembo, West Rembo, East Rembo and Pitogo (known as the Embo barangays)
- Philippine Army headquarters, Navy installation, Marines headquarters, Consular area, JUSMAG area, Heritage Park, Libingan ng mga Bayani, AFP Officers Village
- Six other adjacent villages
This ruling is based on historical, documentary and testimonial evidence.
Meanwhile, Binay’s feud with Senator Alan Cayetano dates back to the time when the two had an argument during a Senate hearing in 2024 involving the construction cost for the new Senate building in Taguig.
READ: Binay accuses Cayetano of slander in ethics complaint
Their argument escalated into a heated exchange which resulted in Binay walking out of the hearing and later filing an ethics complaint against Senator Alan Cayetano./apl
